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Baseball tourney returns to Ely this weekend

Sir G’s Classic will host games in Ely and Soudan

Keith Vandervort
Posted 7/8/20

ELY – As many as 10 Senior Babe Ruth teams will descend on Veterans Memorial Field here this weekend for the first and only youth baseball tournament of the summer.The Sir G’s Midsummer …

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Baseball tourney returns to Ely this weekend

Sir G’s Classic will host games in Ely and Soudan

Posted

ELY – As many as 10 Senior Babe Ruth teams will descend on Veterans Memorial Field here this weekend for the first and only youth baseball tournament of the summer.
The Sir G’s Midsummer Classic starts Friday, July 10. As many as 20 games will take place this weekend, most at Ely’s historic baseball field, along with several games at Soudan Legion Field. Action begins at 11 a.m. on Friday and concludes at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
The first Sir G’s Classic was held in 2002 and included six teams, according to Tom Coombe, Ely’s head coach and tournament organizer. The classic-style tourney format will be in effect with the champion determined by tournament record and tiebreaker if needed.
“Ely is the only Class A high school program in the field and the other teams are Class AA or above” he said.
The Sir G’s Classic is typically an American Legion baseball event, but this year changes were made to all youth sports due to public health concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. The Minnesota Department of Health announced late last month that youth baseball games could resume with an abundance of caution for both players and spectators.
Some teams were turned away because the tournament was capped at 10 teams. Grand Rapids, which has made several Division 1 State Legion Tournament appearances, enters the Ely tourney for the first time ever. Wadena, which advanced to the Division 2 State Legion Tournament in 2028 and 2019, will also be in Ely this weekend, Coombe said.
Other teams taking part include Minnetonka, Roseau, Proctor, Esko, Hermantown, International Falls and West Duluth.
Ely plays:
• Friday, 8 p.m., versus Hermantown.
• Saturday, 3:15 p.m., versus Minnetonka.
• Saturday, 7:45 p.m., versus Esko.
• Sunday, 3:30 p.m., versus Proctor.
Daily admission price is $6. A tournament pass is available for $12.